ericrynehess

I’m employed at an engine manufacturer who still produces legacy products designed decades ago. From my experience that price LASAR stated, $116k for 45 springs, is probably true. It’s also probably true that 200 springs could cost $125k due to way suppliers price their minimum order quantities. I wouldn’t be surprised there is something like this happening and LASAR is getting a lot more than 45 springs out of this deal. These prices are certainly many times more expensive than the true cost because it isn’t worth their time to make them for less. 45 parts is nothing and it’s taking time away from producing something else. Years ago when my employee badge was still wet I got into an argument with some supply chain people for stainless spacers I needed on hand in order to release a service bulletin to fix an issue. They had calculated we’d sell about 30 spacers a month. So they ordered 30 spacers a month at $30 a piece. They could have ordered 1000 spacers for $1000 but didn’t want the inventory. I could not change their mind. I’m not sure what price we sold those simple washers at but I’m sure it was several times the cost. Apply this logic to parts much more complicated than a spacer. Someone earlier mentioned companies dumping tools and equipment that go unused and that’s true. Eaton may make these themselves and they need to fab new tools or develop routers and heat treat processes due to different equipment they possess now versus back in the day, and they need to substantiate the part is the same as before. Or they may have always outsourced this to an outside supplier and they are working with someone new now who is starting from scratch. There are so many reasons why that price could be real unfortunately, even if it’s ridiculous. All these companies operate in cover their ass mode. I’m not an expert on springs but I imagine their fatigue life can be shortened greatly with the wrong heat treat properties, or small geometry differences, and whoever is making these is most likely testing them to confirm their durability. We would if anything substantial in the process changed or the supplier changed. This is partly why Continental and Lycoming engines cost such an obscene amount.